I love to travel, although my family probably isn't going away this summer. My daughter is taking an accelerated class to get her EMT license (three days a week
and lots of studying), plus has two summer jobs...one at a doctor's office and she also lifeguards. Then, she'll be off to her second year of college at the end of August.
So, there are no
opportunities for us this season, but we're thinking we may take a trip during her winter break in December or January...likely someplace warm to escape the cold Wisconsin weather we get that time of the year.
If a trip away from home IS on the horizon for you, however, you may love these travel
hacks I use whenever my family travels.
1. Utilize inexpensive shower caps. Sure, you can use one to cover your hair if you don't want to wash it that day. But, a few extras provide convenient covers for shoes to prevent them from dirtying your clothes in your suitcase. Simply slip your shoes inside shower caps, and they're ready to be
packed. 2. Keep a copy of important documents. It's always a good idea to have copies of your passport, driver's license, and other important documents in case of loss or theft. Store these copies separately from the originals, preferably digitally so you can access them from your
phone or a remote connection from a computer.
3. Pack dryer sheets. Dryer sheets help to keep your luggage fresh while traveling. Just tuck a few into your suitcase in between clothes. Planning a lot of walking on your trip? Bring a box of dryer sheets so you can pop a sheet into
each shoe every night to freshen them up.
4. Use a pill organizer for small items. Instead of carrying multiple bottles of medication or small items like earrings, use a pill organizer to keep them organized and prevent them from getting lost in your
luggage.
5. Pack a portable power strip. This is a handy tip, especially if you have multiple electronic devices to charge. A portable power strip allows you to charge several devices at once when there are limited outlets in your hotel room. 6. Bring a few paper cups. They can be turned upside down and used as makeshift toothbrush holders. Just poke your toothbrush right on through...or use something a bit sharper, like the point of a pen, to poke the hole you need.
7. Pack a
doorstop. Pack a simple doorstop into your suitcase, and keep it in there for all of your trips. It's so much easier to bring luggage inside when the door is wide open.
8. Make use of the hotel ironing board. You can use it to iron a shirt, of course. But I rarely bring
clothing that requires ironing on vacation. Instead, I almost always pop the ironing board open and use it as an extra table.
9. Going camping? Bring interlocking foam tiles and make your own cushy flooring! So much better than sleeping on a hard surface. 10. Don't get lost. Biodegradable trail marketing tape will prevent you from getting
lost on your hikes. Tie it around trees so you can easily identify your journey back to your starting point. 
